Lock for the adjustable backs of loose-leafed ledgers, account-books, record-books, files, &amp;c.



PATBNTED DEC. 19, 1905.

Av.` D. HULQUIST. LOCK FOR THE ADJUSTABLE BACKS 0F LOOSE LEAFED LBDGERS, ACCOUNT APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 190% BOOKS, RECORD BOOKS, PILES, 5w

. Ommesses nnirnn sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW D. HULQIST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J. S. MCDONALD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOCK FOR THEADJUSTABLE BACKS 0F LOOSE-LEAFED LDGERS, ACCOUNT-BOOKS, RECORD-BOOKS,

i FILES, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent. A

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed January 25, 1904. Serial No. 190,624.

covers and backs between which the leaves can be removably secured and which are capable of being moved bodily to and from each other and locked or unlocked in any position to .which they may be adjusted simply by being laid on one side or the other and compressed.

The object of my invention is 'to reduce the construction of such a lock to the simplest form possible consistent with its perfect 0peration and economical manufacture. This I accomplish by the means hereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal central section through my invention, showing the endsof the parts thereof secured to the clamping-plates of the b ack of the book, which are also shown in section. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but with the book reversed, so as to illustrate the changed position of the parts of the locking devices. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating a longitudinal central section of the bolt of said lock; and Fig. 4 is a similar view, but with said bolt turned on its axis at right angles to the position thereof shown in Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A and B represent the clamping-plates of the adjustable back of a book adapted to removably retain loose leaves. The rear edges of these clamping-plates have stiff lapping curtains a and respectively, that protect the rear edges of the leaves, and their front edges have the covers of the book suitably secured thereto.

Secured at right angles to the inner flat side of clamping-plate A by means of a screw c is a bolt C. This screw `extends through a countersunk'opening in plate A and is tapped -longitudinally and centrally into the adjacent end of said bolt, so that by the use of a screwdriver said bolt could be turned lin the direction of the pitch of the` screw. If desired,

however, the bolt could be so fastened inv clamping-plate A as to be immovable. The unsecured end of bolt C is preferably made slightly greater in diameter than the remainder of its length, forming a head g, and a diametrical slit c is made longitudinally in said end that extends from the extremity of the bolt past the shoulders of said head. Loosely pivoted in this slit c by means of a pin d, eX- tending diametrically through head g at right angles to the plane of slit c, is a pawl D, the contours of the preferred shape of which corresponds to those of a central section of a truncated cone. The pivotal pin d strikes through the truncated angle of the pawl, and the length of the base-line of said pawl is slightly greater than the diameter of the body of the bolt, substantially as shown in Fig. 4: of the drawings.

Secured to and projecting at right angles from plate B in alinement with bolt C is a tubular counterpart or case E, the inner surface /L of which is corrugated or grooved in a suitable manner. These corrugations may be either spiral, as shown in the drawings,`or concentric rings; but the former is preferable on account of the desirability of further compressing the loose leaves by revolving the bolt after the initial compression. This case has one end secured in plate B, preferably by being tapped into it and then its end edges spread in any suitable manner and has the diameter of its opposite unsecured end e reduced to prevent the withdrawal of the head g of the bolt. This construction, however, while preferable need not be adopted.

The operation of my invention is simple. Supposing the book to be in the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings and that the leaves or other matter contained between the covers be suflicient to expand the book and separate the clamping-plates. Under these conditions when by external pressure the clamping-plates have been pushed toward each other as far as they will go the pawl or dog D, whose gravity causes it to move on its axis to the one side or the other, will when the pressure is removed catch against the ridges of the corrugations 7L of the case and prevent the further separation of the clamping-plates. Now

vif the position ofthe book is reversed and it is desired to separate the covers of the book, by exerting pressure enough the said clamp- IDO ing-plates can be moved toward each other slightly, sufficient to enable the dog D to ment) according to the outward pressurerof the contents of the book.

Vhat I claim as new is- 1. In a loose-lealc binder comprising clamping-plates, a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates, a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters which has transverse spiral corrugations on its inner surface, andagravity-controlled pawl pivoted at its end nearest the extremity of said bolt and having two engaging points at its opposite end one on one side and the other on the other side of the axis of said bolt which are adapted to engage the corrugations of the tube on one side or the other of the bolt.

2. In a loose-leaf binder comprising clamping-plates, a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said clamping-plates having an enlarged head at the unsecured end thereof, a tube secured vto the other plate having the diameter of the opening in its unsecured end into which said bolt enters restricted and having transverse spiral corrugations on its inner surface, and a pawl pivoted at its end nearest the extremity of said bolt and having two engaging points at its opposite end one on one side and the other on the other side of the axis of said bolt which are adapted to engage the corrugations of the tube on one side or the other of the bolt.

w3. In a loose-leaf binder comprising clamping-plates, a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said clamping-plates having a head on its unsecured end which is provided with a longitudinal slit therein, a tube secured to the other plate having the diameter of the opening in its unsecured end into which said bolt enters restricted and having transverse spiral corrugations on its inner circumference, and a gravity-controlled pawl pivoted at its end nearest the extremity of said bolt within said slot and having two engaging points at its opposite end one on one side and the other on the other side of the axis of said bolt which are adapted to engage the corrugations of the tube on one side or the other of the bolt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of January, 1904.

ANDR-EVV D. HULQUIST. Witnesses:

E. K. LUNDY, FRANK D. THoMAsoN. 

